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It’s a star-studded cast badembled by the Saskatoon Hilltops as they head into yet another Prairie Football Conference final.
The Hilltops will play host to the Edmonton Huskies in the PFC final Sunday afternoon (1 p.m. game-time, The Bull 92.9 FM Radio) at SMF Field with a shiny collection of 12 conference all-stars.
“I’m really happy for a lot of those players — during the season we did put up some good numbers,” Toppers head coach Tom Sargeant was saying Friday. “But, at the end of the day, that stuff doesn’t carry over into the playoffs. It’s the team that wants it the most that’s going to get the thing done.”
Saskatoon Hilltops quarterback Jordan Walls hands off the ball to running back Josh Ewanchyna against the Winnipeg Rifles at SMF Field in Saskatoon on Sunday, October 14, 2018. Walls and Ewanchyna have both been named 2018 PFC all-stars.
Liam Richards /
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
All that Saskatoon has done is finish the regular season with a perfect 8-0 record (Edmonton was next at 6-2).
After a 58-5 win last week in their PFC semifinal, the Toppers have outscored their opponents 460-75. Their focus is on two more wins.
“We’ve got our eye on the prize,” stressed Sargeant. “We have great leadership. Guys are really excited for the opportunity and they all know that, when you become an all-star, there are a lot of reasons. Certainly, good coaching is one of them. The (position) coaches put in a lot of time and work into their development. No. 2, if anybody has success either on offence or defence, it’s the other 11 players who are helping them out as well.
“We feel good as a team, but we’re not into individual awards. We’re into team awards.”
Of the 12 PFC all-stars on the Hilltops, seven of them were unanimous choices. By comparison, the Huskies have eight all-star picks with two of them being unanimous.
Saskatoon Hilltops’ Jason Price runs with the ball during the Prairie Football Conference final against Regina Thunder at SMF Field in Saskatoon on October 22, 2017.
Michelle Berg /
SASwp
Offensively, quarterback Jordan Walls, offensive lineman Kirk Simonsen, running back Josh Ewanchyna and receiver Jason Price were unanimous picks on the Hilltops.
Linebacker Cody Peters and defensive linemen Garth Knittig and Jesse McNabb were also unanimous selections.
Joining them as PFC all-stars are defensive backs Colton Holmes and Jared Giddings, offensive linemen Mason Ochs and Taylon Elderkin, as well as return specialist Adam Ewanchyna.
Simonsen, Ochs and Elderkin are all-stars for the second consecutive season.
For the Edmonton Huskies, running back Brandt Burzuk and defensive back Justin Hodinsky were unanimous all-star choices.
Linebacker Oshane Samuels and receivers Sam Clayton and Harrison Cabel also received all-star nods on the Huskies. Cole Sabourin earned double honours as punter and placekicker.
The Saskatoon Hilltops will play host to the Edmonton Huskies in the PFC final Sunday at 1 p.m.
Kayle Neis /
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
“They’ve got a great running game and a real athletic quarterback,” badessed Sargeant. “You’ve got two receivers who were all-stars this year, so they can certainly move the ball around and make plays. And then, defensively, they’re just aggressive and real physical. They like to get after things. They certainly have our respect and have us attending to all the little details that take place in big games.
“We’re just real excited to be playing at home and we’re ready for the opportunity.”
The Huskies are coming off a thrilling 39-36 OT victory over the Regina Thunder.
“We’re the two best teams coming out of the PFC and it’s always a tough battle in order to do that,” said Sargeant. “Certainly they showed a lot of heart and desire last week in an overtime (win over the Thunder). We’re certainly wary of their victory and they’re a team that certainly played us the toughest during the season, so I believe it’s going to be a good physical match-up for both.”
The Hilltops have won the past four PFC crowns and Canadian Bowl titles. They’re looking for an unprecedented five-peat. They’re two wins away from that.
Sargeant admits that he has lost count on the number of trips by the Toppers to the PFC final.
“I’m just living for today and I can’t wait to coach our team and make them better and making sure we have the opportunity to get better.
“Sunday will come soon enough. We’ve got to be ready, locked in.
“The Edmonton Huskies are good, but so are we.”
Related
PFC ALL-STARS
Defensive Line:
- Garth Knittig – Saskatoon Hilltops*
- Jesse McNabb – Saskatoon Hilltops*
- Evin Kochisali – Edmonton Wildcats
- Justin Kwiatowski – Winnipeg Rifles
Linebackers:
- Cody Peters – Saskatoon Hilltops*
- Davin Williamson – Regina Thunder
- Oshane Samuels – Edmonton Huskies
- Donovan Hillary – Winnipeg Rifles
Defensive Backs:
- Justin Hodinsky – Edmonton Huskies*
- Jayden Dalke – Edmonton Wildcats*
- Colton Holmes – Saskatoon Hilltops
- Jared Giddings – Saskatoon Hilltops
- Andrew Ricard – Winnipeg Rifles
Punter:
- Cole Sabourin – Edmonton Huskies
Return Specialist:
- Adam Ewanchyna – Saskatoon Hilltops
Offensive Line:
- Kirk Simonsen – Saskatoon Hilltops* (second consecutive season)
- Mason Ochs – Saskatoon Hilltops (second consecutive season)
- Taylon Elderkin – Saskatoon Hilltops (second consecutive season)
- Logan Ferland – Regina Thunder* (third consecutive season)
- Chad Teskey – Regina Thunder*
- TJ Sloboda – Edmonton Huskies
Running Backs:
- Josh Ewanchyna – Saskatoon Hilltops*
- Brandt Burzuk – Edmonton Huskies*
Receivers:
- Jason Price – Saskatoon Hilltops*
- Lee Brown – Regina Thunder*
- Sam Clayton – Edmonton Huskies
- Harrison Cabel – Edmonton Huskies
Quarterback:
- Jordan Walls – Saskatoon Hilltops*
Place Kicker:
- Cole Sabourin – Edmonton Huskies
*unanimous pick
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